This is a Pattern 1856 Short rifle imported from England for use during the Civil War. The P56 short rifle is the most common short rifle encountered. The weapon had an overall length of 49" and a barrel length of 33". The barrel was rifled with three lands and grooves and had a long range rear sight graduated out to 1100 yards. These rifles used a sword bayonet, and had a bayonet lug with extended key mounted on the right side of the barrel. Sling swivels were attached to the front barrel band and to the extended trigger guard tang. The barrel and barrel bands were blued. The lock, butt plate, trigger guard, lock escutcheons and nose cap were case colored. The ramrod had a bright finish. A commercial variation of the P56 short rifle was also produced. They differ from the iron mounted rifles in the following areas: the bayonet lug was of the short type without the extended key, the trigger guard does not have the extended tang, the rear sling swivel screws directly into the stock. The butt plate, trigger guard and nose cap were all brass pieces. This Pattern 1856 Short Rifle is of the commercial variation. It measures 49 1/4" overall, and has a barrel length of 33 3/16". The bore is dark and heavily rusted, almost no trace of the rifling is visible. The exterior of the barrel has a black patina and shows very minimal pitting. A shadow is visible where the long range rear sight used to be, it is no longer there. A simple buckhorn style sight has been dovetailed into the barrel, just forward of the breech, but it is damaged. The block type front sight is still reporting for duty. The keyless, short type bayonet lug is securely attached to the right side of the barrel. The lug itself shows a lot of wear. Birmingham proof marks are very legible on the left side barrel flat at the breech. This rifle was chambered in .577 caliber. Both barrel bands are present, the front band is missing the sling swivel. The lock plate and hammer have a patina that matches the barrel. The lock is stamped with a crown behind the hammer and 1861/TOWER forward of the hammer. There is a problem with the lock, it does not work in half or full cock. The nose cap, trigger guard and butt plate have a matching mustard yellow patina. The rear sling swivel is broken off in the stock, and the ramrod is missing. The walnut stock is in good condition. There is an age crack behind the lock approximately 1/2" long, but does not extend past the stock flat. The left stock flat is stamped with the name GRIFFITH, mostly likely a stock maker. Carved on the right stock comb is TR/90, not sure who or what that represents. Carved into the left stock comb is F.T. Hudson/Co.F. A search of the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database found two matches for a F.T. Hudson, one Union and one Confederate soldier. The Confederate soldier seems more likely. Felix Thurman Hudson was born 18 November, 1845. He enlisted as a Corporal in Company F, 14th Alabama Infantry Regiment on 31 July, 1861. He took his oath of enlistment, "for the war", from Captain Mickleberry O. Ferrell in Chambers County, Alabama at the age of 15. He was officially listed on the company roll as a "Third Corporal". Hudson appears on the rolls of the 2nd Division's Chimhorazo Hospital #4 in Richmond, Virginia. He was admitted for "catarrh & typhoid fever", being admitted 6 January, 1862 and released for duty on 2 March, 1862. Corporal Hudson was present for duty on the company muster rolls from March, 1862 through May, 1863. He was discharged in Richmond, Virginia on 10 June, 1863, for "being under 18 years of age." He was reenlisted by Captain John M McKleroy in 1863 into Company A, 10th Alabama Cavalry at Dalton, Georgia. He served as a courier for Colonel's Judge and Baine, serving through to the end of the war. Hudson was paroled on 3 May, 1865 at Charlotte, North Carolina. Felix Thomas Hudson went on to become a reverend, married and had 13 children. He died on 9 March, 1914 at the age of 69. This little war horse has a few issues, but the history helps make up for the short comings. If desired, the lock issue could be repaired. Just a little more research will concrete the connection between this weapon and Corporal Hudson!

Item # AA1177

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